anglaise: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical (Culinary, Music, Dance)
Quick answer
What does “anglaise” mean?
A French term meaning 'English' (feminine form), used in English contexts primarily to refer to a type of dance, a musical style, or a culinary preparation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A French term meaning 'English' (feminine form), used in English contexts primarily to refer to a type of dance, a musical style, or a culinary preparation.
In English usage, it denotes something done in the English manner or style, particularly in the arts (music, dance, cuisine). It can also refer to a specific Baroque dance in triple meter or a method of preparing food (e.g., 'à l'anglaise').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical and equally rare in both varieties. It is confined to the same specialist fields (culinary arts, historical dance, musicology).
Connotations
Conveys sophistication, specificity, or historical/technical accuracy within its niche contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Slightly more likely to be encountered in UK contexts related to historical dance or classical music, but the difference is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “anglaise” in a Sentence
[preparation] à l'anglaise[noun] à l'anglaisein the anglaise styleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anglaise” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The chef will anglaise the vegetables for that dish.
- They decided to anglaise the entire service.
American English
- To anglaise the green beans, boil them briefly.
- The recipe instructs you to anglaise the carrots first.
adverb
British English
- The dish was prepared anglaise.
- She prefers her vegetables cooked anglaise.
American English
- The beans were served anglaise.
- He had his steak prepared anglaise, much to the chef's surprise.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology (e.g., 'an anglaise by Bach'), dance history, and culinary studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be encountered on a high-end restaurant menu.
Technical
Standard term in professional culinary arts for a specific preparation method (e.g., vegetables cooked 'à l'anglaise' - boiled).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anglaise”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anglaise”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anglaise”
- Using 'anglaise' to refer to an English woman in modern English. (Use 'Englishwoman').
- Pronouncing it as /æŋˈɡleɪz/ (with a hard 'g'). The 'g' is soft as in 'pleasure'.
- Assuming it is a common word; it is a highly specialized loanword.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not in modern English usage. While it is the French word for an English woman, in English it is a loanword used almost exclusively as an adjective in fixed phrases related to style, particularly in cooking, dance, and music. The English word is 'Englishwoman'.
In British English, it is /ɒŋˈɡleɪz/ (ong-GLAYZ). In American English, it is /ɑːŋˈɡleɪz/ (ahng-GLAYZ). The 'g' is soft, like the 's' in 'pleasure'. The stress is on the second syllable.
For general English learners, it is a very low-priority word. You should only learn it if you have a specific interest in culinary arts, historical European dance, or Baroque music. It is not used in everyday conversation.
'English' is the general adjective for anything pertaining to England or the English language. 'Anglaise' is a specialized term borrowed from French used in specific technical or artistic contexts to mean 'in the English style/manner'. You would say 'English history' but 'sauce anglaise'.
A French term meaning 'English' (feminine form), used in English contexts primarily to refer to a type of dance, a musical style, or a culinary preparation.
Anglaise is usually formal, technical (culinary, music, dance) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “à l'anglaise (in the English way/style)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANGLAISE' sounds like 'ANGLE' + 'EASE'. Imagine an English person at ease, dancing a specific, angled dance from the Baroque period.
Conceptual Metaphor
STYLE IS NATIONALITY (The characteristics of a nation define a manner of execution).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'anglaise' MOST appropriately used in English?